Adjustable stilt



P. E. GLAFCKE.

v ADJUSTABLE STILT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2|I I915.

8110c for J02 Q/Q/QAQ.

m G-H'OI/HCHJ THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CD 'ASHNQTON, D, c, I I

PAUL EMERSON GLAECKE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE STILT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed June 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL EMERSON GLAr- 01m, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Stilts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable stilts, being more especially ,dirooted to a step for a stilt, the step being adapted to be slidably mounted on a stick or staff for adjustment longitudinally thereof. One object of the invention is to improve the construction of the step, and a further object is to provide novel means for securely holding the same at any point of adjustment on the staff, against any downward movement or any unintentional upward movement without the employment of grooves, notches or holes in, or projections on, the stafi on which the step is mounted. An additional object is to enhance the utility and reduce the cost of articles of this class.

Past efforts with reference to this subject have been directed in part to staffs in sections slidab-ly adjustable on one another, or single staffs, either style having adjustable steps, parts of which engage holes, grooves, projections, etc., placed at regular and fixed points on the stafi, and where such means of adjustment have not been followed, eccentrics or eccentrically working cams, etc., carried by the step have been used as looking devices, all these types in one respect or another involving features inconsistent with mechanical perfection and commercial development, and consequently preventing wide introduction and extensive use, with the result that the public have derived no benefit. Hence my further object is to overcome these diflicuties and provide an article of light weight, symmetrically designed with an ample strength factor, and

positive action, in regard to preventing accidental movement in either direction when set which features reside in the details of construction, and the combination ofparts hereinafter described.- anclclaimed, it be-f ing understood that changes in the precise embodiment'of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The stilt step is preferably manufactured from sheet metal of the fiat wire type 'of suitable width and thickness, the blank be-v ing cut out by dies and shaped, the design permitting its reversal in the cutting out process thus conserving material, which coupled with capability of manufacture by machinery, tends to produce an economical article of symmetrical design, oil light weight, yet possessing the necessary strength to constitute an exceedingly durable device, all of which features are important in an article of this class.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illus-' trated an embodiment thereof. drawing,-

Figure l is a top plan view showing one complete blank adapted to form my improved stilt step all of the parts being shown in the same plane. In this view parts of two other blanks are shown on opposite sides to indicate the manner of economizing material in the manufacture of this device.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the stilt step applied to the staff which is broken away both above and below the step. This is a view-looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 2, being a view looking in the direc tion of arrow 3, Fig. 2.,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line H Fig. 2 looking toward the right.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 Fig. 4.

In this Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the stilt step or a view looking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 3, the stall being shown in crosssection. v

Fig. 7 is a top plan view in detail of; the dog or pawl for securing the stilt step' in the desired position of adjustment on the stafi. v

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the flexible connection between the step and the stafl, the same being shown in theexteiided posi'-' tion or lying'in a single plane.-

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a staff showing one of my improved stilt steps in several positions of adjustment, one position being in full lines and the other positions in dotted lines, the parts being shown on a' smaller scale than in the other views.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive let the numeral 5 designate my improved stilt step considered in its entirety and composed of two principal members, namely, a shank 6 and a bracket foot rest extension 7. As illustrated in the drawing this step is formed from an integral piece of sheet metal preferably what is known to the trade as flat wire. The shank member 6 is formed hollow to receive the staff 8 while the foot rest member 7 extends outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the shank and occupies position about central of the shank. Pivotally connected with the foot rest member as shown at 9, is a dog or pawl 10 whose free extremity is preferably bent as shown at 12 making this end of the pawl hookshaped. The pivot 9 is so positioned that when the pawl is caused to occupy the full line position in Fig. at or the dotted line position in Fig. 3, the step is securely fastened to the staff in the desired position of adjustment.

There is a flexible connection 13 between the outer extremity of the foot rest member and the staff above the top of the shank. The staff extremity of this flexible member is equipped with a ring 14: which is approximately rectangular in shape and is snugly slidable on the staff, whereby it will normally maintain itself in the desired position of adjustment. The opposite extremity of the flexible device 13 is connected with a shackle 15 having an upwardly projecting loop 16 with the transverse member of which the part 13 is directly connected. The lower extremities of the arms of the loop are formed into hooks 17 which extend outwardly from the loop arms and terminate in inwardly extending parts 18 which pivotally engage openings 19 formed in the depending side parts 20 of the foot rest member. The upper parts 21 of these hooks occupy a position above the upper surface of the outer extremity of-the foot rest member, and while allowing the shackle 15 a limited oscillating movement, serve to maintain the shackle in an upwardly extending position and due tothe limited oscillating movement, it forms an adjustable guard to prevent the foot of the user from slipping off the foot rest member of the device when the element 13 is not in use over the instep. The flexible part 13 may be composed of web material or other suitable fiat woven fabric, or leather or any other desirable material having a reasonable degree of flexibility.

The shank member of the device is composed of parallel side parts 22 which when the device is in use are vertically disposed and engage the staff on two sides which may be termed the front and rear, these terms being used with reference to the position of the device when in use. On the side of the staff opposite that where the foot rest member is located, the shank is largely open as shown at 23. On the opposite side or that adjacent the foot rest member, the shank is also open and exposed except at the top and bottom where lips 24: engage the staff andserve in conjunction with the pawl to maintain the step in proper position when the device is in use. These lips also maintain the step in adjustable relation with the stafi' when the pawl is in the unlocked position or disengaged from the staff, see the full line position of this element in Fig. 3. The sides 20 of the foot rest member are parallel and lie in the same plane as the side parts 22 of the shank member, and form the support for the pawl 10 as heretofore described. The upper edges of these side members 20 merge into horizontally disposed flanges 25, which are spaced leaving the top or the tread part of the foot rest member open. The outer extremities 26 of these flanges, however, close the opening between the flanges 25, each of the parts 26 having a half perforation 27 which when the foot rest member is completed, form a perforation adapted to receive a fastening rivet 28.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing and more particularly to the central blank portion of this view, the device as heretofore described is shaped by bending the blank on the dotted lines 29, 30 and 31. The two lines 29 are parallel and when forming the device the parts at the right and left of these lines are bent along these lines to cocupy positions at right angles to the part between the lines. The parts at the right and left of the lines 30 are then bent to en gage a staff on the side adjacent the foot rest member. The bending of the blank on or'along the lines 31, forms the flanges 25 and their extensions 26 heretofore described.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved .device as thus far described will be readily understood. Assuming that the stilt step is constructed either from sheet metal as just explained in detail or in any other manner, the flexible part 13 is connected with the foot rest member by springing the extremities 18 of the shackle into engagement with the openings 19 of the foot rest member. The pawl or dog 10 is secured in place by passing the pivot pin 9 through the eye 32 formed on one end of the pawl, the extremities of the pin engaging perforations 83 formed in the sides 20 of the foot rest member, said extremities being riveted outside of said member. The device is then ready to be applied to the staff and is slid thereon by applying the shank to one extremity of the staff and moving the same longitudinally thereof to the desired position, care being taken to apply the ring 14 to the staff at the same time that the shank is put in place. The ring and shank may be moved together to the desired position depending upon the height which the user desires. The pawl 10 will then be moved to the locking position or that shown by full lines in Fig. 4 and dotted lines in Fig. 3. The flexible device 13 may be placed in the position shown in Fig. 3 in which event it passes over the foot of the user; or it may be moved downwardly where it is permitted. to lie within the opening between the edges of the tread flanges 25 and in contact with the upper surface of the pawl 10 as shown in Fig. ff. In either event the shackle 15 will serve as an adjustable guard and in the lat ter case prevents the foot of the user from slipping off the outer extremity of the foot rest member.

When it is desired to remove the step from the stafi, or change the position of the same thereon, the pawl 10' may be moved to the disengaged position, either by pressing downwardly thereon through the opening or space between the flanges 25, with the thumb at the same time gripping the step and lifting upwardly or by reversing the position of the staff and givingits upper ext-remity a sharp blow against the ground or other firm support. This will slide the staff in the shank 6 and move the pawl to the disengaged position. During this operation the user will of course grasp the step with his hand or hands so that the staff will be free to move through the shank for the purpose stated.

Attention is called to the fact that when the pawl 10 is in the locking position, it serves to largely close from below the opening in the foot rest member of the step between the fianges 25 thus supporting and strengthening the said flanges.

When securing the step upon the staff by forcing the pawl 10 to the locking position, instead of crowding the same by the use of the hand, tightly into place, the lower extremity of the staff may be brought forcibly into contact with the ground or other sufliciently firm surface, while the step is held in the hands of the operator. This movement of the staff will act frictionally upon the inner extremity of the pawl to move the latter into engagement with the flanges 25 of the step and whereby its inner extremity shall tightly engage the stafi.

In disengaging the pawl from the stafi or moving it to the unlocked position, the opening in the foot rest member between the flanges 25, gives access to the pawl from above and makes it practicable for the operator to disengage the pawl from the staff by pressing downwardly thereon with his thumb as heretofore explained, or by the use of any suitable device.

lVhat is now known to the trade as flat wire possesses peculiar characteristics in that a grain like that of wood runs lengthwise of the material and in the cold rolling process different degrees of hardness or temper are imparted. Accordingly my improved stilt step has been designed with a View to the preferred use of this material in its construction, the design being such that the grain runs lengthwise and at right angles to the lines of stress, and the important bends in shaping, fall across the grain, which coupled with the varying degrees of hardness or temper makes it possible to select tempers for the different parts.

The dog or pawl does not operate on the principle of an eccentric or eccentric cam, because the operating end swings in the line of a true are as indicated by the dotted line 50, in Fig. 3, and when at the limit of its operating movement impinges and stops slightly within the face of the staff 8, just as the movement passes beyond the dead center line 51 (see Fig. 4), where any further movement in the same direction is held at the point of greatest compression by the tread flanges 25 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6),which serve as stops against which the dog or pawl lodges with a positive hitch which insures the secure locking of the step at the point selected on the staff, permitting of no clownward movement and positively holding against any unintentional upward movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,

1. A stilt step comprising a hollow shank member and a foot rest member formed integral with the shank and projecting therefrom, and means mounted on the foot rest member for securing the step in place upon a stafi', said means comprising a pawl pivotally connected with the foot rest member slightly below the lower surface of the tread portion thereof and in suitable proximity to the staff and adapted to swing into clamping relation with the stick or staff passing through the shank member, and into engagement with the lower surface of the foot rest member, which surface is slightly above the axis of the pawl when the device is in use.

2. A stilt step comprising a shank memher and a foot rest member formed integral therewith and projecting therefrom intermediate the extremities thereof, and means mounted on the foot rest member for securing the step in place upon a stafi, said means comprising a pawl pivotally connected with the foot rest member below the top of the latter and adapted to be moved toward the tread portion thereof and into clamping relation with the staff passing through the shank member, the pawl being so arranged that when in the locking position, its upper surface engages the under surface of the tread portion of the foot rest, which serve as a stop.

3. A stilt step comprising a hollow shank and a foot rest member projecting laterally therefrom intermediate the extremities thereof the foot rest member having a top part forming a tread and spaced depending side parts, and a pawl pivotally mounted between the said side parts of the foot rest slightly below the lower surface of the tread portion thereof and in suitable proximity to the staff and adapted to be moved toward and into engagement with the tread portion thereof and into locking relation with a stafi' passing through the shank member.

4:. A stilt step comprising a hollow shank and a foot rest member projecting laterally therefrom intermediate the extremities thereof, the foot rest member having a top part forming a tread and spaced depending side parts, and a pawl pivotally mounted between the said side parts of the foot rest and adapted to be moved toward the tread thereof into locking engagement with a staff passing through the shank member, the tread portion of the foot rest having an opening which is partially closed by the pawl when in the looking position.

5. A stilt step comprising a hollow shank adapted to receive a stafi, a foot rest extending laterally from the shank and having a. top part forming a tread and depending spaced side parts, and a pawl located between said side parts hingedly connected at its outer extremity therewith and so arranged that its free extremity is adapted to swing into clamping relation with the staff and its upper surface into engagement with the lower surface of the tread of the foot rest, the said tread being open to give access to the pawl.

6. A stilt step comprising a hollow shank member, a laterally projecting foot rest member the shank member being adapted to receive a staff, and a connection between the foot rest member and the staff, said connection including a flexible part having a ring at one extremity adapted to surround the staff and a shackle at its opposite extremity, the shackle being connected with the outer extremity of the foot rest to form a guard to prevent the foot from slipping off the tread.

7 A stilt step composed of a hollow shank member, a laterally projecting foot rest member, the shank member being adapted to receive a staff, and a connection between the foot rest member and the staff said connection including a flat flexible part having a ring at one extremity adapted to surround the stall and a shakle at its opposite extremity said shackle being composed of an upwardly projecting part whose lower extremity is provided with outwardly projecting loops whose upper parts engage the top of the tread and whose lower or terminal parts enter openings formed in the sides of the foot rest.

8. Astilt step composed of a hollow shank member, a laterally projecting foot rest member, the shank member being adapted to receive a staff and a connection between the foot rest member and the staff said connection including a flat flexible part having a ring at one extremity adapted to surround the stafi' and a shackle at its opposite extremity connected with the outer extremity of the foot rest member by means of loops having lower parts pivoted in the sides of the foot rest below the top, and other parts extending above the top and on the tread and arranged to permit a limited oscillating movement of the shackle to cause the latter to assume at all times a position to form a guard for the foot of the user.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL EMERSON GLAFGKE.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, A. EBERT OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

